Recognizing the urgent need to set up proper channels for maximum dissemination of the information CUSUR had at its disposal, the Center has long considered its anticipated biannual Journal of Ukrainian Affairs as a priority.

As originally contemplated, the US-UA Working Group Yearly Summit (initially named the US-UA Leadership Summit) was intended as a venue for focusing attention on the four categories of interest named in the US-Ukraine Strategic Partnership Charter

The several visits of young, fresh minded, reform oriented UA military commanders and national security analysts to various top flight foreign policy think tanks and institutes of higher diplomatic or military learning in DC

The worsening of his image is a consequence of how politics is undertaken. âUkraine should play by the rules â not with the rulesâ, EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana told President Kuchma in 2002.

Yanukovych continues to play with the rules:

Insufficient votes or worried about losing a referendum to change the constitution, then pressure the Constitutional Court.

Insufficient votes to establish a parliamentary coalition, then change parliaments regulations and pressure the Constitutional Court.

Canât win elections in Kyiv, then liquidate rayon councils and change the law to have the mayor appointed as the governor.

Insufficient votes to change the constitution to make Russian a state language, then adopt a law giving regional autonomy on language issues.

Donât like the Supreme Court because of December 2004, then use legal reforms to make it irrelevant.

Playing with the rules was especially prevalent in the October 1 decision to return to the 1996 constitution. âWhat took place is illegal, unconstitutional, illegitimate and unnecessary for Yanukovychâ and âUkraine is moving to Russiaâ, said Mikhail Pogrebynsky, Director, Ukrainian Centre for Political and Conflict Studies.

It is worth remembering that:

Eastern European and Baltic states adopted parliamentary constitutions which assisted their building of democracies and Western integration.

CIS states adopted presidential constitutions which led to authoritarianism.

Another area of concern is âre-KGB-izationâ of the SBU:

The SBU is moving towards KGB-FSB model to a greater degree than under Kuchma. This year the SBU has investigated and created a climate of fear with:

Human rights NGOâs

Feminist NGO

Historians and academics

Journalists

Political opposition

Foreign foundations

The October 31 local elections will not meet international standards and 58% of Ukrainians believe there will be election fraud:

Authorities control majorities in all election commissions;

Cloning of Fatherland Party lists of candidates;

Refusing to register opposition candidates;

Denial of media access;

âCampaign against corruptionâ targets Tymoshenko;

Virtual-loyal nationalists: Svoboda;

Complaints of administrative resources by opposition and authorities coalition partners.

There is time to re-adjust policies as Yanukovych is only in his first year in office. Ukraine is not yet Russia. But, can the drive to âPutinismâ be halted? There are four policy changes that need to be taken to reduce tension and instability:

Remove divisive cabinet members;

Promote national consolidation through the formation of a grand coalition;

Oligarchs are no longer passive in politics;

Shift from single to multi-vector foreign policy: good relations with Russia with integration into Europe.